So, we just gave you a fairly easy question, right? In fact, we did. 80% of the candidates in the exam passed.
All we asked for were 4 X-ray features, 4 early complications and 4 late complications.
This is what the official examination report has to say:
Examiner Comments: Beyond the initial description of the abnormalities the last 3 parts of the question were typically answered very generically. This was a complicated X-ray with multiple abnormalities. Candidates should describe several of the separate abnormalities rather than multiple features i.e. displacement, angulation, comminution, of just one or two of the abnormalities present.
This comes back to our idea of stacking your answers, or providing as much detail as possible.
So, answering the first question a poor answer might look like:
Which is quick to write, but not very descriptive.
Candidates need to work towards being able to communicate with clear, consultant level scientific language.
Now, that's a few more words, but not really any more cognitive process. It's just a better description, and it leaves the examiners no doubts as to your comprehension of the nature of the injury.
Working towards the second question, again, it is possible to answer very generically:
Again, language specific to the issue at hand is much more useful, and by the time you are "exam ready" should not take you too much more time to produce:
We'll freely admit the last answer is a bit wishy-washy (if you've got something better please put it up on the VSG). But at the same time we have - in our first three answers - clearly mentioned 4 acute issues (median nerve and ulnar nerve injury are "stacked" together in answer 1. Answering with detail and answering with maximum content within the required number of answers is a skill that you need to master to improve your chances of succeeding in the exam.
Got something different to us? Share it, via the VSG. Oh, and feel free to put up your 4 late complications too!
All we asked for were 4 X-ray features, 4 early complications and 4 late complications.
This is what the official examination report has to say:
Examiner Comments: Beyond the initial description of the abnormalities the last 3 parts of the question were typically answered very generically. This was a complicated X-ray with multiple abnormalities. Candidates should describe several of the separate abnormalities rather than multiple features i.e. displacement, angulation, comminution, of just one or two of the abnormalities present.
This comes back to our idea of stacking your answers, or providing as much detail as possible.
So, answering the first question a poor answer might look like:
- comminuted
- displaced
- shortened
- intra-articular
Which is quick to write, but not very descriptive.
Candidates need to work towards being able to communicate with clear, consultant level scientific language.
- comminuted fracture distal humerus
- 100% anterior displacement of proximal fragment
- intra-articular component posteriorly, with shortening 1-2cm
- impaction/"burst" appearance of distal fragment sections on AP film
Now, that's a few more words, but not really any more cognitive process. It's just a better description, and it leaves the examiners no doubts as to your comprehension of the nature of the injury.
Working towards the second question, again, it is possible to answer very generically:
- Nerve injury
- Arterial injury
- Bleeding
- Compound fracture
Again, language specific to the issue at hand is much more useful, and by the time you are "exam ready" should not take you too much more time to produce:
- Nerve compromise (Ulnar and Median predominantly)
- Disruption of the brachial artery/limb ischaemia
- Compound fracture - needs early washout
- Uncontrolled haemorrhage from an open fracture OR compartment syndrome requiring fasciotomy.
We'll freely admit the last answer is a bit wishy-washy (if you've got something better please put it up on the VSG). But at the same time we have - in our first three answers - clearly mentioned 4 acute issues (median nerve and ulnar nerve injury are "stacked" together in answer 1. Answering with detail and answering with maximum content within the required number of answers is a skill that you need to master to improve your chances of succeeding in the exam.
Got something different to us? Share it, via the VSG. Oh, and feel free to put up your 4 late complications too!